In the light of day, Lions not too pretty

Friday

Nov 23, 2007 at 6:40 AM

DETROIT — A three-game losing streak has exposed the Lions' true identity. They're that seductress that looks much better within the dim of light and desperation of heart, luring those that should know better closer with a wink and a whisper.

DREW SHARP

DETROIT — A three-game losing streak has exposed the Lions' true identity. They're that seductress that looks much better within the dim of light and desperation of heart, luring those that should know better closer with a wink and a whisper.

But it's only a meaningless flirtation.

That was the Lions' 6-2 start, just another cheap tease passing itself off as respectability.

The hussy!

The 0-3 start to the second half of the regular season strikes much closer to the genuine core of this team.

They're simply not that good.

The Lions' castles in the sky came crashing down in yet another Thanksgiving turkey, a 37-26 surrender to the inevitable NFC North champion Green Bay.

It's no longer about the Lions making the playoffs. It's about winning another game this season. They've blown the playoffs with three straight losses in clearly winnable games.

"Ten (wins) gets you in (the playoffs)," said Jon Kitna. "The reality is we've got to get to 10. In the NFC, that'll get you in. We've got to get to 10. We've got five games left."

The Kitna playoff formula requires four wins in the Lions' final five games.

That's not happening, especially with a disjointed offense incapable of mutual success through the air and on the ground. It's either one or the other on any given week. The Lions ran the ball well against the Packers, but it didn't open up downfield opportunities for the passing game. If it's a matter of poor execution, the coaches aren't doing their jobs.

They're not winning four of their final five when the offensive tackles can't keep the edge rushers out of Kitna's face. Green Bay defensive end Aaron Kampman spent so much time in the Lions' backfield, they should have just given him a Honolulu blue and silver helmet and a copy of Mike Martz's playbook.

They're not winning four of their final five when they continually feed the ball to one of their two big playmaking receivers at the complete exclusion of the other.

Rookie Calvin Johnson was the primary target yesterday, catching seven passes, and Roy Williams assumed Johnson's previous role as The Invisible Man. Williams was clearly frustrated over his lack of offensive participation. He motioned to Martz on the sideline after he caught his first pass of the game late in the second quarter, perhaps suggesting he get more action coming in his direction and soon.

"There is no panic in my life," said Rod Marinelli. "I just don't live that way. What I do look forward to is getting our team in (Friday). I do look forward to the challenge that is ahead of us. It is a tough challenge. I've been down this road many times. I just believe in the players. I believe in work habits. I believe in work."

The players believe in Marinelli, so this isn't comparable to prior collapses when the Lions tuned out their head coach, quit on the season and carelessly walked hand-in-hand into the abyss. That's not the issue.

But trusting the message takes you only so far through a 16-game season. Players must consistently make plays and that demands a higher level of talent than the Lions possess.

It only makes the disappointment sting even more because the Lions once again exploited the public's vulnerability, sucking them into yet another tease that covered up the truth.